Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in my Member’s statement today, I have a constituent who has an issue that should be of concern to all of us. My constituent is a very articulate person, and when we met with the public administrator and the CEO of the hospital, she was very clear on what it would take to make the washrooms at the hospital accessible and useable by someone in a wheelchair such as herself. I am sad to say that since that meeting six months has gone by. The hospital is operated by Health and Social Services, but Public Works and Services would be involved in any kind of a renovation. What was indicated as being required is a commercial base on a toilet that is raised up, that is higher off the ground, and instead of diagonally placed gripper handle, that they be on a horizontal so that you could put downward pressure on them in order to lift yourself. I know this is getting into detail here, but lift yourself up off of a higher toilet seat. That’s what she said she needed. That’s all we needed. Now we have a quote from Public Works and Services for $55,000, and there’s no money available to do this.
I would like to ask somebody’s permission, if the good, capable maintenance folks at the Hay River hospital could please go in and take the base off the floor, change it out for a commercial, higher toilet base and install those gripper handles with any kind of backing they may need to make them safe. Could I please have permission and instruction that this could be carried out? I guarantee you it’s a low ticket item. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Minister responsible for Public Works, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, Public Works and Services does not actually maintain this asset, but we were asked by the Department of Health and Social Services to give them some information and some expertise given that the department does do this type of thing. The problem is, obviously, for any upgrades in that bathroom to meet code, they have significant codes that they have to meet for safety and public safety. That’s why the cost has ballooned up to $45,000.
I hear what the Member’s saying. I clearly hear what the Member’s saying, and I’m happy to work with the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services and the authority, to see if there’s anything that we can do to minimize the cost so that we can actually put something in there, keeping in mind that that hospital is temporary – it’s going to be gone soon – but see if we can do something for the short term. Thank you.
Here is the insanity of the situation. If we’re going to put in something that works, it’s going to have to be up to code, which is going to cost, according to the latest quote from Public Works, $55,000. How can we have a facility that is up to code but not useable by a person with a disability that’s in a wheelchair? I mean, there’s no code standard with something that is unsafe and unusable for a person with a disability. Do I need to tell my constituent to go and file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission or something? I mean, it’s not acceptable that she cannot go to the Hay River hospital and use a washroom that is not unsafe to her, because although the washroom that’s there right now may be up to code, it is not safe or operable for her to use.
I don’t know what to say about code. I mean, it can’t be code right now. If I was building a commercial building right now, I would have to put a washroom in there that was accessible by people with disabilities and that would have to be up to code. I’d like to ask the Minister of Public Works, will he find out if it is possible to install gripper bars in the washroom and put a new toilet base in there which is raised up. Thank you.
Like I said, Public Works and Services will absolutely work with the department and the authority. I do understand that there is a barrier-free bathroom downstairs, which is completely accessible by elevator, so the person can get to an accessible bathroom on the downstairs floor, but as far as that bathroom, we will work with the Minister and the authority.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
